The Filipino secret for coping

The Philippines is like Haiti in the East.  But despite widespread poverty, Filipinos have the lowest suicide rate in Asia.  Japan, the wealthiest, has the highest.  How do Filipinos face their hard lives daily without sinking to despair?  Is it with our faith in the crucified incarnate Son of God?  I think so.

However, I also think that it has something to do with our sense of humor.  Here in the states, you can tell if a group of Asians are Filipinos by laughter.  It seems to be an ethnic trait so, it is hard to teach.  But I did find these suggestions from the Christophers.

• Start the day by smiling at yourself in the mirror.  Beginning with a good, solid chuckle helps set the right mood for the whole day. 
• Sing out loud in the shower.  
• Have contact with children, even if it’s just observing kids in stores, at church or on the playground.  Kids are a guaranteed source of laughter.
• Remember at least once a day something that made you laugh when you were a kid.
• Look for laughter on television comedies or from rental movies.  Don’t forget the oldies – the Marx Brothers’ movies and the Laurel and Hardy shorts show the universality of humor over time and place.
• Look for the opportunities to do fun things.  Just finding fun can bring pleasure.
• Remember: laughter is contagious.  And so is grumpiness.  Be with people who laugh.  It’s possible to forgive someone a great deal if that person makes you laugh. 
• Read a funny book on a bus. Trying not to laugh in front of strangers is guaranteed to get you laughing.
• Recognize the silly in the stressful.  A hint: imagine during a stressful time – like a visit to the doctor’s office – how you will re-tell it to your friends later to get a laugh.     
• Don’t hesitate to fake it.  Whether laughter is forced or spontaneous, the same muscles are used.  Keep smiling and you’ll find that real laughter is not far behind.   
• Never feel guilty about your laughter since it’s the way the body and the spirit help you to cope.
• And most of all, remember the cardinal rule: Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

Besides the physical and mental benefits of laughter, there are also spiritual benefits such that joy has become part of the Salesian spirituality.  Their Rule states:  "We make our own St. Paul's exhortation "Rejoice in the Lord always."  This is the witness we must give to youth.  "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace..." and this is where our own hope and openness to the Spirit is rooted.  Perhaps, this is also the source of the Filipino humor as it is a Catholic nation.

Video: US Catholicism - faithful, thriving, vibrant and young

Despite the scandals and dissent, the revolts and exodus, internal corruption and external oppositions,  the Catholic Church has been founded on rock and "the gates of hell will not prevail against it" - in the US and anywhere.  Here is an indication of how the Church is thriving.

Rocco Palmo reports: "It never gets anywhere near the coverage it merits, but the Stateside church's largest annual pilgrimage took flight again earlier this month as, for yet another August weekend, the 33rd Marian Days (above) lived up to its legend as roughly 80,000 Vietnamese-American Catholics swelled Carthage, Missouri (usual pop. 15,000) for the latest edition of the festival started in 1978 by a recently-migrated religious community which, having received a former seminary in the Heartland as its new home-base, sought to give thanks for the freedom it found on these shores."

Other source:
Closing Mass:


Procession:


and break dancing?

If videos fail, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/08/video-us-catholicism-faithful-thriving.html

Video: Surviving victims of Ground Zero speak. The mosque placement is their prerogative - imho.

I think that it is the victims' prerogative to forgive (or not) the Muslims that ended or broke their lives.  To forgive in their stead is unconscionable.  How dare anyone presume for the dead or bulldoze the survivors into positions.   Why not hear them out and for once be respectful and sensitive to their anguish.  If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/08/video-surviving-victims-of-ground-zero.html

Catholic saints with a Muslim father.

Saints Nunilo and Alodia were a pair of 9th c. virgin martyrs in Huesca, Spain.  They were born to a Muslim father and Christian mother.  However, they chose their mother’s Christianity. And so during the Emirate of Abd ar-Rahman II it came to pass that these little girls were first put in a brothel and then were executed as apostates according to Sharia law. Their feast day is 22 October.  Source: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/08/a-counter-proposal-for-the-mosque-at-ground-zero/

Pelosi fears discovery of tax funding for NY mosque?

The Speaker of the House threatened those who are pushing to find the source of  the funds for the proposed mosque at ground Zero.  Speaking on San Francisco's KCBS radio, Pelosi said:  "There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded," she said. "How is this being ginned up that here we are talking about Treasure Island, something we've been working on for decades, something of great interest to our community as we go forward to an election about the future of our country and two of the first three questions are about a zoning issue in New York City."

That sounds like intimidation and harassment.  But more importantly, what is she afraid of?  One might suspect that the source of funds will be even more controversial than building this abomination.  Will it be funded with stimulus tax monies?  That is not a stretch because, there are reports that this is already being done abroad and in the process the administration is engaging in religious preference contrary to the law of the land.  I did a search on "tax dollars mosques" and got 10 pages.  Here are some of the links:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/10/tax-dollars-to-build-mosques/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2570331/posts
http://liberty.spruz.com/pt/Tax-dollars-to-build-mosques-both-at-home-AND-ABROAD/blog.htm

Miraculous picture of Mother Mary and another of demons?

This is an alleged photograph of the Virgin Mary taken during an apparition in Medjugorje.  The photographer (unknown) snapped a picture of the wall where the alleged apparition was taking place, and discovered this picture when it was developed. Ivan Dragicevic, one of the six visionaries, confirmed that this was indeed a picture of the Blessed Mother.  However, he added that she was much more beautiful in person. 

These are members of the so-called Catholic United group that is promoting support for Democrats and Obamacare.  They're opposing the pro-life tour of the Susan B. Anthony List these days. Catholic United misrepresents the Catholic Church's teaching misleading the faithful to support the Democrats and Obama last election.  I am not sure if there are demons in this photo but, their work is certainly diabolic.  So, I suspect the prince of darkness is somewhere there.  For more info, go to http://www.catholicvoteaction.org/americanpapist/index.php?p=8218

Witnessing to purity and the Messiah at Myrtle Beach this Summer

While vacationing at Myrtle Beach, SC this summer, I got a chance to share my faith a couple of times and I felt that the Lord was pleased that I did not shy away.

I went to this convenience store to get milk and found some porn mags on the rack. I was simply going to ignore it as I headed towards the cashier when I thought, “Why give money to a man who sells porn?” So, I returned the milk and was on my way out then another thought came, “Tell him what you did and why. It might make him stop.” I am by nature shy but I mustered the courage to tell him, “I came here to buy milk but I returned it because I saw the magazines that you’re selling.” He retorted, “What does one have to do with another? Only stupid minds … something, something.” I forgot whatever he said after “stupid minds”. Rather than flaring up, I put my palm up as if to say, “Talk to the hand.” But I replied, “I’m just saying. Maybe others are doing the same.” And the suggestion is that, “You’re losing money.” He didn’t say anything after that.

Another time was when I stopped to get a haircut. I noticed Hebrew characters on a ticket and steered the conversation there. The barber was an Israeli so, we did some small talk about Israel and the current level of American support or lack thereof, the Torah and the loopholes, shaving, kosher kitchen and a lot of Jewish stuff. Because I studied in Maryland, I had a few Jewish friends. I also studied the Hebrew Scriptures for a few years. At the end, he was concluding about “being a good man but not fanatically religious”. I countered saying, “But what if G*d wanted to have a closer relationship with you? Why not read Isaiah to find out.” The Book of Isaiah is one that describes the Messiah as the Suffering Servant and that leads to Jesus. But it was enough to plant that seed and who knows how G*d will use it. Again, I felt great and my conviction seems to have deepened because of that.